MewsNEWS November 2004

Message from the President

Dear Mews Owners and Residents,

By the time you read this, we will know who our president will be for the next four years. As a responsible citizen of the United States, you voted on November 2 and helped decide the election.

How can you be a responsible member of the Fairlington Mews? Many of you have done that in the last month as we have undertaken some repairs and replacements.

When some Mews citizens felt the masonry work wasn't being done properly, they called to tell the Management Company and the Mews board about it. When some Mews citizens felt the roof replacement wasn't going well, they called. When the new signs were put up, they called.

Since all of the Mews board members have full-time jobs, we cannot always be the eyes and ears of the Mews, so we are very appreciative when you let us know your concerns.
In all these cases the board attempted to fix whatever needed to be fixed.

Now the Mews Board needs additional help. Gedeon Werner, a member of the board, has a new job which means he will be out of the country more often than in the past. He has resigned his board position, and the Mews Board needs to appoint a new member to serve until the annual meeting in June.

We are asking any Mews citizen who is interested in serving until June to write a letter of intent stating their reasons for wanting to be on the board of directors. That letter can be sent or given to any board member before Friday, November 26th. We will then appoint someone at the Tuesday, November 30th meeting. This is according to ARTICLE IV, Section 6 of our by-laws (page 42).

Here is one last word about the new signs. The board spent many hours deciding on the design of the new signs. We were restricted by the county's requirement that any information about towing must be in letters three inches high.

Since one of the criteria for changing the signs was to make the addresses more visible, the signs had to be larger. However, the board directed that the signs be placed no higher than four feet. When board members arrived home on Thursday, we were unpleasantly surprised to see the height of the new signs, as were some of you. The board directed management to lower the signs, and that issue is now resolved.

The board of directors of Fairlington Mews wishes everyone Happy Holidays and a bright New Year.

Gretchen Martin

703.933.1368

News

Muse

Finance Committee Goals Outlined

As many of you know, one important issue raised during last June's Fairlington Mews Annual Meeting was the status of the Replacement Reserves fund. Some residents were concerned because the balance in this Fund has been reduced in recent years due to significant expenditures. The Replacement Reserves fund is used for large expenditures, such as roofing and pipes throughout the Mews.

To address these concerns, the Board solicited volunteers to participate in a Finance Committee. The Committee will conduct analysis to make recommendations to the Board as to what might be done with regard to the Replacement Reserves fund. The Board has asked the Committee to address two main points:

1. The Finance Committee will look at the Replacement Reserve analysis report done by Seal Engineering and compare it to the Mews FY 2005 budget. This could also be done for FY2006 and FY 2007. The question to be answered: Will there be a shortfall?

2. Based on this information, the Committee will recommend a target amount for the Replacement Reserve fund and will make recommendations concerning the funding, whether by adding a percentage of the budget each year or by adding an absolute dollar figure.

The Board has asked the Committee to report back by the January 25 Board Meeting. Once that work is complete, the Board will report the findings and any actions that may come as a result of the findings.

In the meantime, if you are interested in volunteering for the Finance Committee, please contact Ben Marglin at marglin_ben@bah.com or 703.671.7281.

Click Here, Dude!
Fairlington Web Site Resources

Many of you already have visited and made good use of this Community web site - www.fairlington.org. Here are some helpful links:

· Mews Handbook www.fairlington.org/mewshand.htm

· Board Minutes/Newsletters www.fairlington.org/mewsindex.htm

· Condominium Resources Site www.fairlington.org/condoresourcepage.htm

· Emergency Preparedness Page www.fairlington.org/emergencypreparedness.htm

Volunteers

Work

Landscape Committee

Meeting regularly in September and October, the Mews Landscape Committee considered the fall planting proposal from Environmental Enhancements and a pruning proposal from Don Hook’s tree services. Members did a walk around with Don Hook on September 16 to determine immediate pruning needs. The Mews Board of Directors approved in September landscape work of over $9,000 to be completed this fall.

The committee has received several requests from residents which have been completed or will be completed as part of contracted fall work. We appreciate input from residents as it indicates an interest in the grounds work and an awareness of our committee’s desire to improve our landscape. We may not be able to have all requests completed immediately, but we are making steady progress in improving our grounds’ appearance!

Recently Arlington County under the direction of Tony Ruth and Jamie Bartalan was instrumental in pruning the Bradford pear trees in Court 1, removing the tree stumps adjacent to Court 1, removing two dead street trees adjacent to Mews property, and pruning deadwood some trees along 34^th St. We are working with the City of Alexandria to see that the roadside along King Street is cleaned of debris.

We are proposing the removal of some trees in the commons area. Please understand that a tree is removed only when there is a safety issue, a tree health issue, or a tree longevity issue. No tree is arbitrarily removed. Some of our trees are in decline – the dogwoods, Hemlocks, and pines (near the double tennis courts) are some examples. Their unhealthy conditions are due to environmental factors, unsuitability of the plant material for this area, and the increase of disease in the “urban forest” setting.

Again, the committee thanks those residents who are properly maintaining flowers near their units. All will agree that the entire community benefits from such efforts.

We would especially like to thank Court 10 residents for their concerted efforts in dressing up that area! Since residents of this court do not have any lawn to buffer them from the street, their flowers add a welcoming touch to the area. Thank you all for your work!

We have three leaf removals scheduled as part of the fall clean up:

(1) between October 20 – November 5,

(2) three weeks after the first removal (before Thanksgiving), and

(3) between December 15 – 20 (before Christmas).

Residents who have maintained flower borders during the growing season are reminded to clean up and to dispose of plant debris (properly bagged, of course!) as the community prepares for the end of the growing season.

The committee welcomes Judith Gurney as a new member. Judith, a resident of Court 9, maintains the lush flower beds near the tennis courts. Any interested resident may join our little group; we meet regularly on the second Monday of each month at the South Community Center. To be on the safe side about meeting schedule, give a call to verify the meeting date and place.

The Mews Landscape Committee makes every effort to notify residents affected by the installation of new plant materials, scheduled prunings, and the removal of overgrown plantings. Sometimes (as we are a small, volunteer group) we may overlook someone who needs to be notified. We apologize in advance if this happens.

You probably have seen us out and about; stop us and say “hey” and share your impressions of our landscape. We are quite pleased with the progress made this growing season with the expert care of Environmental Enhancements under the direction of Fred Peratt. We also appreciate the kind words we have had from many of you regarding the overall appearance of our community.

The Committee meets regularly on the second Monday of each month. Contact Tom Corbin (tomrcor@aol.com) or Lori Olivas (lorolivas@comcast.net) for further information and include “Mews Landscape” in the subject box.

Neighborly Reminders

Winter Energy Saving Tips

The following winter energy saving tips are summarized from information provided by the Energy Information Administration, a division of the United States Energy Department. More detailed information may be obtained from www.energysavers.gov, a site maintained by the Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

1. Keep heat from escaping from your home. Rozanne Weissman, energy expert of the Washington Alliance to Save Energy, recommends holding a lit candle on a windy day “next to windows, doors, electrical outlets, and light fixtures. If the smoke travels horizontally, you’ve found an air leak. The solution is caulking, weather- stripping or additional insulation.”

2. Keep drapes, shutters, and blinds on windows with a southern exposure open during daylight hours to take advantage of warming sun rays.

3. Turn your thermostat down a few degrees, especially when leaving home for a long period of time.

4. Keep furnaces and heat pumps in good working condition. Have equipment checked and serviced regularly in the spring and fall to maintain optimum efficiency.

5. Turn the hot water heater thermostat down to 120 degrees rather than leaving it at the more-typical 140 degrees.

6. Invest in a programmable thermostat. Costs range from $30 - $100.

7. When purchasing new windows, furnace, heat pump, or appliances, look for the “energy star” on products being considered.

8. Make sure your storm door is properly weather-stripped and closes tightly.

9. Run the dishwasher only with a full load. The same applies to your washer and dryer.

10. Make certain your attic insulation is up to code. (Information summarized from “Warding Off Winter’s Chill”. Washington Post. 16 October 2004. F22.)

Dryer Vents

Recently a Fairlington resident reported that his dryer was not working properly. He called a repairman to check it for the cause. They discovered that the vent was clogged with lint and was ready to catch fire. Residents should check vents and lint screens regularly to prevent potential vent fires.

Making Your Home Safe from Possible Burglars

If you are out of town on business or traveling for the holidays or a winter vacation, there are some tell tale signs to burglars that you are not at home alone! Preventing a possible burglary is easy by being aware of the following actions:

· Have a neighbor check your house daily to pick up newspapers, flyers, or packages left at your door. (Also have your neighbor check under sinks and around commodes for possible leakage. We have all heard horror stories of returning residents who find a flooded kitchen, bath, or basement.)

· Leave lights on at night and vary each day which lights are left burning.

· Never leave your porch light burning during day light hours. This is a sure sign to possible burglars that no one is home or watching your property.

· Never leave your blinds, curtains, or shutters shut tightly all the time when you are away. Have a neighbor open and close them each day as you would when at home.

· Leave keys with neighbors. In the event of an emergency, someone will be able to enter your residence.

· Tell your neighbors you will be away; give a contact phone number where you may be reached in an emergency; and give leave and return dates.

Daily Life in the Condo Association

Squirrels and Trash

All of us have returned home only to find that morning’s trash scattered over our porch or walkway as a result of hungry squirrels. You can prevent this by putting a few drops of ammonia into the trash bag or spraying some insect repellent into the bag.

Vehicle Parking

· Remember Arlington County law says that cars must be moved on the street every ten days. Avoid a ticket; obey the law.

· All cars parked in lots must display current Arlington decals, license plates, and inspection stickers. The Mews Board of Directors allows Arlington County Police to enter lots to check for current licensing, decals, and inspection stickers.

· Residents who live in the Mews must register their automobiles with Arlington County and obtain the proper Arlington County decals. This is true for all residents’ vehicles. Arlington County Traffic enforcement may be reached @ 703- 228- 4141.

Trash (Yes, Another Reminder!)

· Please remember that all trash (including garden and pruning debris) must be properly bagged and left in front of your unit by 7:00AM for pickup. Items placed out the night before pick up attract rodents. (Yes, there are rats, opossums, foxes, and raccoons in the area.)

· Large item pick up (see Mews Handbook, 1999) occurs only on the first Saturday of each month.

· Residents may arrange and pay for special trash pick up by contacting Jeffrey’s Trash Service @ 703-591-9550.

· Consider having the installer take away old appliances when you purchase new appliances.

· Please promptly remove any items not picked up by Jeffrey’s Trash Service and make personal arrangements to have them removed.

· Recycle cans/ plastics/ glass (separate from regular trash) on Tuesdays and newspapers (paper bagged or bundled with string) on Wednesday.

Arlington County “After Hours” Water and Sewer Contact

Recently a water main break along Four Mile Run affected early morning water supply throughout Fairlington. Many residents wondered if the problem was solely with their unit.

Arlington County “After Hours” Water and Sewer contact number is 703-228-6555.

Common Areas and Storage

Please remember that condo rules and regulations prevent the storage of any personal items on common areas and in the stairwells/ hallway areas of the multi-unit buildings. Such items may be considered trash and removed by management.

Outside Faucets

Remember to turn off your outside faucet before the onset of winter. Valves controlling outside faucets are located inside your unit. After turning the inside valve off, open the outside faucet to drain and leave it open. Don’t forget to turn the outside valve off before reconnecting and using in the spring.

Board

Minutes

Highlights

Complete, detailed Mews Board Minutes can be found on the Fairlington Web Site at the Mews Home Page:

www.fairlington.org/mewsindex.htm

September 28, 2004

· There was general discussion of the masonry work to stoops and the repairs for Court 10 and the fire lane to the pool, as well as mechanisms for long-term funding of such projects.

· Gretchen Martin discussed concerns by some residents about the roofing work being done

· Resident Don Taylor suggested that the Mews should have a designated coordinator for projects so that work can be regularly monitored to ensure that it is being done according to contract.

· The Landscape Committee presented its proposal for fall work, outlined in a report that had been submitted to the board. The board approved the committee’s request to use $9,631 from its budget for the work outlined in the proposal of September 21, 2004 from Environmental Enhancements.

· The Recreation Committee reported it is considering shade structures for the pool enclosure. The committee had recommended earlier that any complete replacement of the pool deck be done much later as the current deck was in fair shape and could continue to be repaired and be satisfactory for the near term. It was suggested that the board consider setting up a reserve fund to replace the deck as it will be an expensive proposition when the time comes; further discussion on this was deferred until the finance committee makes its final report. The board discussed a proposal by management that Century Pool Company be responsible for opening and closing the pool. There was unanimous disagreement for this proposal and the board restated its satisfaction with the work done by World Pool.

· The board agreed to repair the net at the 34th Street tennis court and brace it according to recommendations submitted by the tennis chair, Roger Taylor.

· The Newsletter Committee asked for input and material from the board for the next newsletter which would be published in November. The committee added that the last issue cost significantly less than earlier issues.

· The August leak in Court 13 was discussed, which turned out to be a problem with a county water main. The board voted to allocate $8,273 for asphalt repairs in Courts 10 and 13.

· The contract for the Leafguard gutters was approved.

· The board acknowledged the request from Arlington County’s Commissioner of the Revenue for a list of community residents so that the County can advise vehicle owners of the tax obligation they may have to Arlington County.

· The board agreed that it would not respond to anonymous letters.

· The board requested that the instructions to the finance committee be published in the next Mews News.

October 26, 2004

· The Landscape Committee presented its report. There was discussion of a multi-year contract with Environmental Enhancements. The committee presented its plans for pruning work over the winter.

· The Recreation Committee reported that the pool contract for 2005 would be in this week and presented at the next meeting.

· The monthly financial report was reviewed in detail. There was concern over the final cost of the engineer’s report on the condition of the tennis courts, with a recommendation that parameters be set for future reports to avoid such surprises.

· Management reported that rates for water and sewer increased noticeably on July 1, and that utilities would be higher than anticipated this year.

· Delinquent accounts were discussed.

· Residents with domed window-well covers would be notified that such covers would have to be removed, following up on the notice that was sent in May.

· Masonry repairs were proceeding slower than expected.

· The roof replacement had been completed but gutters remained to be installed.

· The board members agreed to split courts among them so as to be able to follow up on work orders by residents.

· There was considerable discussion about the new parking lot signs. Gretchen Martin and David Biette explained that the new signs were designed to convey information and for visibility, so that the address portion of the sign would be the most prominent part of the sign.

The height of the towing language lettering is dictated by Arlington County and the committee felt that the towing language should *not* be the most important of the signs.

Since the new signs were bigger, the placement of some signs had to be changed. Siting the signs was based on the needed room for the sign, visibility of the sign from the street, a desire to keep the signs 3 feet from curbs or sidewalks, keeping them where possible off tree lawns, and general aesthetics as each court is different.

It was the committee’s intent that the new signs be placed at the same height as the old signs; the board voted to reiterate its desire to have the signs 15" from the ground.

The board also acknowledged unnecessarily long telephone messages from some residents regarding the signs, and that board members had given explanations of the interim work. The board requested that the sign in Court 2 be moved to the tree lawn.

· The board denied a request to replace a front entry door at 4602 S. 34th Street since the door did not match the existing door; a variance request for a new storm door was approved.

· A variance to remove a wall between the kitchen and dining room at 3520 S. Wakefield Street was approved provided that all work is done according to Virginia and Arlington building code.

· A variance to create a pass-through between the kitchen and dining room at 4634 S. 34th Street was approved provided that all work is done according to Virginia and Arlington building code.

· A variance to add cobblestone curbing to edge the sidewalk at 4600 S. 34th Street was approved, although the resident was asked to remove the stones nearest the sidewalk or sink them to sidewalk level to avoid tripping hazard.

· The tree maintenance plan by Don Hook, presented by the Landscape Committee, was approved for $7,775. The board said that, as is feasible, it would like to see a tree planted for every tree that must be removed because it is diseased, dying, or inappropriately sited.

· The board approved drainage repairs for the west-side sidewalks in Court 14.

· The board approved the snow removal contract for the coming winter.

· Snaking and/or hydrojet cleaning of storm drains was discussed. No decision was made because storm drains seem to be draining well.

· There was initial discussion on development of a noise policy.

Timely Tips

By Sher Opal

Management Agent

Representative

Dates for fall Board meetings: November 30, January 25, February 22, and March 22.

Updates:

Masonry Repairs: The Board signed a contract with Advanced Caulking in September to begin the long-awaited masonry repairs to the front stoops.

At least half of this work should be finished before the cold/rainy/snowy weather is upon us, with the remainder resuming in the spring. Look for notices from Seal Engineering, the firm working with the contractor on this project. We ask that you keep your windows closed during these repairs, because there will be mortar dust in the air.

This construction activity will include cutting out bad mortar, removal of brick pavers (stoop) and deteriorated concrete, and installation of new materials (pavers, mortar and sealant). We ask that residents refrain from any new planting or landscaping before/during this work and to notify SEAL Engineering, Doug Hays, if any existing plants/materials require special attention -703-823-6366.

Tree Pickup: After Christmas, during the month of January, you may put your tree on the street curb and the trash company will periodically pick them up.

Your Association Funds at Work

Exterior Painting - Courts 7-11 completed in August, 2004. Courts 12-15 scheduled for next June 2005.

Sewer Relining Project: Of the 43 Association maintained main sewer lines, there are 30 lines still in need of relining. We have completed year 2 of a 10-year contract to reline the terracotta sewer lines.

Parking Lot Signs: By the distribution of this newsletter, all the new parking lot signs will have been installed, as well as a new fire lane sign and pet exercise area signs. Management has advised the Board to landscape around these signs to protect them from damage.

Roof Replacement – 3522 – 3524 S. Wakefield Street: This roof has been installed as well as new Leafguard gutters.

Concrete Repairs: All the concrete sidewalk/steps repairs have been completed for the year.

Parking Lot Resurfacing & New Curb: The Board has postponed this work until the Reserve Committee has completed their review of the replacement reserve schedules.

Pruning: In Defense of Trees

Beginning the week of November 29 (weather permitting), Don Hook’s Tree Services will perform contracted work to prune some of our trees. Work to be done was identified in mid-September.

Pruning will be done to (1) eliminate dead wood, (2) elevate the lower branches where needed, (3) remove broken and/ or crossing limbs, and (4) shape the tree canopy. According to horticulturalist Andre Viette, “Pruning stimulates growth and you can use that to encourage bushier growth and …stems.”

The old myth that tree cuts need to be “sealed” is just that, a myth.

According to expert Ken Druse*, “…repeated experiments have shown that cuts on trees left undressed heal faster and better than treated ones…coating a freshly cut limb…may be harmful. The dressings can inhibit the natural healing process by preventing cells from growing to seal off dead wood.”

Sometimes a tree has to be removed as further pruning is not the answer. Several Fairlington tree species are in decline – the native Virginia dogwood (Cornus florida) (anthracnose infection), the hemlock (wooly adelgid infection), the Austrian Pine, the crabapple, and now a new disease affecting oak trees has been identified. Proper pruning, watering, and fertilization keep a tree healthy, but unfortunately disease does necessitate the removal of some trees. The neighboring Arbor Association recently had to replace all the Austrian pine trees around their tennis courts because they were infected with a disease which could not be cured.

Some trees in our landscape were planted too close together which means that their canopies grow together and none of them flourish. When these crowded trees reach maturity, something has to give…yes, one or more of the trees will have to be removed for the health of the remaining ones.

The Mews does not arbitrarily remove a tree; removal is based on expert advice and is performed only when the tree cannot be helped or is affecting the health of neighboring trees. There are many trees which we continue to prune for deadwood where personnel have told us it would be cheaper in the long run to remove and replace the tree. It’s sort of like “nickeling and diming” yourself with an old car.

All of us love our trees, and proper maintenance (like that three thousand mile oil change) ensures their health.

* www.kendruse.com.htm

November Gardening Tips

In spite of the cooler temperatures and shortening days, there are still “chores” to do in the fall border. The exceptional color of the leaves and late blooming flowers make this a great time to be outside.

Mums from the road side stand or nursery are an easy way to brighten the fall landscape, and many Fairlingtonians dress their porches and borders with these “instant color” plants. Unfortunately many mums planted in the fall do not survive the winter, and it’s best simply to treat them as annuals and discard after blooming.

If you check a quality nursery, however, you can find the “rubellum” mum, an heirloom garden plant which is hardy and more spectacular than the common mums usually found. The “rubellum” mums are sometimes called Korean mums, have single daisy-like blooms in various shades of pink, salmon, white, and rose, and are winter hardy. Their fragrance on warm days is a real plus. These blend well with purple flowering kale and multi-colored pansies.

Hopefully you’ve been taking advantage of the good weather to plant spring bulbs. Many folks do not realize that in order to have incredible spring color from bulbs, they need to be planted in the fall. It is too late to plant the smaller bulbs – crocus, snowdrops, anemones, etc., and daffodils are already making roots – but still plant them if you find them on sale. Tulips, however, can go in as late as the ground can be worked. Plant same color tulip bulbs in clumps for a dramatic display as they do not look “right” planted in rows, but are more striking when massed in clumps and groups. Daffodils look great “naturalized” (as nature would have planted them) with other plants and shrubs. Daffodils are more “informal” and tulips more “formal”. Bulbs can provide color from late winter to late spring…if you have the space!

Some perennials provide handsome winter interest and should be left until spring before cutting down. Sedums have good colored seed heads; Russian sage looks nice in the winter landscape as does the seed heads of liriope; grasses can remain until late winter provided that they don’t get too weather beaten; and some ferns provide winter interest (some are evergreen).

The stems of annuals contain much water and are a mess to clean up after frost hits them. Clean up is easier before the first killing frost. Even though the winter garden may seem stark to some, a clean, well mulched border with evergreens, some winter interest plants, and perhaps a “berried” plant, will keep the gardener happy over the winter.

Mulching keeps the border attractive and uniform in appearance, but it also insulates your plants as it helps maintain an even soil temperature and prevents premature growth in the spring. Also, mulch “breaks down” (i.e., decomposes) during the season and enriches the soil as well as prevents plants from “heaving” out of the soil because of freezing and thawing.

The condo association uses shredded hard wood bark as mulch, and if you’re putting down any of you own, you should match it with that provided by the association. Be careful and buy quality mulch as the cheaper kinds may contain fungi and disease. Colored bark or wood chip bark is not appropriate in the common beds.

Proposed Gardening Events

Tom Corbin of Fairlington Mews and Chuck Edwards of Fairlington Meadows are exploring the possibility of presenting gardening events next year to foster gardening interests in Fairlington, to enrich gardeners’ knowledge, and to share gardening ideas.

Presentations of gardening seminars or speakers and a possible guided tour of one of the area’s important gardens are under consideration.

Preliminary contacts have been made to area garden associations, the Arlington County Extension Service, and local nurseries to determine the availability of speakers and programs. Proposed topics for such gardening events include: gardening in the shade, incorporating native plants in the landscape, selecting appropriate trees/ shrubs for the Fairlington scene, planting the summer border with annuals and perennials, gardening in a small space, and planting container gardens.

Under consideration are two initial presentations, one in late January and another in early March, with the possible inclusion of a guided garden tour in the spring. More presentations on the summer, fall, and winter garden will be developed if there is interest.

Going forward with this proposal depends entirely on residents’ interest. If you are interested in attending such events, in helping to plan them, or if you have topics to suggest for possible programs, please contact Chuck or Tom. Contact information is as follows: Meadows residents contact Chuck Edwards, 703-379-7256 or c-d@comcast.net ; Mews residents should contact Tom Corbin, 703-931-0687 or tomrcor@aol.com . Please reference “Meadows/ Mews Gardening” in your message or email.

Featured Mews Residents

Gordon Avery and Penny Glass

4655 S 36^th St, Court 15

Gordon Avery and Penny Glass are long term Fairlington residents. Penny started in the A-2 unit, with her three sons, thirty years ago, and this is where they experienced their whole growing up and primary schooling. Gordon came along in 1986, and they bought the B-2 unit upstairs in order to have more space.

Since then, they have used the two units together as their home, with a single telephone and cable TV contract for both. Their blended family includes 6 children—three boys and three girls—and 5 grandchildren.

Gordon’s mother, Margaret, lived with them for her last eight years, and died in their home just after Christmas last year, at the age of 102. Their son, Alexander, lives across the hall in the A-1 unit.

The entry has been a family “pueblo.” The home has been shared with Andrew’s menagerie of animals, and with a crowd of neighborhood boys, some of whom have become lifelong friends. A cat and cockatiel are buried in the front garden under an azalea bush, and the back garden is the richer for a six foot python buried under the impatiens.

Gordon was a neonatologist who, after 5 years in the Navy Medical Corps, served 35 years at the Children’s Hospital National Medical Center, where he was successively Chief of Neonatology, Chair of Pediatrics at GW Medical School, Chief of Medicine, and Director of the Children’s Research Institute.

Gordon retired in 1998, and devotes himself to chamber music (cello), church work (Senior Warden at St Albans Church in DC) and continues to teach medical students as Professor Emeritus.

Penny is a developmental psychologist who specializes in children with handicaps from birth to three years of age. She runs the Child Development Center at Children’s, and helps evaluate developmental progress of at-risk children, advising on interventions which will allow them to achieve their maximum potential. She is Associate Professor of Pediatrics, and teaches many interns, residents, and postdoctoral fellows.

Penny is an advocate for proper stimulus environments for pre-school children, and has been on radio and TV numerous times advocating her views. She speaks several languages: English, baby, loon, bird, and plant. Penny loves gardening, and serves on the Landscaping Committee of the Mews.

Penny and Gordon can think of no place they would rather be than right here in Fairlington. It does remarkably well as a village in the city. This is where they plan to be indefinitely.

They send warm greetings to all their neighbors.

Highlights

Inside